Pinch-hitter Albert Pujols drove in the go-ahead run with a single up the middle in the 10th inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers overcame a rare off night by major league wins leader Julio Urías to beat the Colorado Rockies 5-4 Tuesday.
The Dodgers have won nine of their last 10 to remain on the heels of San Francisco in the NL West. Los Angeles entered the day a game back of the Giants, who played late in San Diego.
Pujols lined a slider from Jhoulys Chacín (3-2) to score Gavin Lux, who began at second base under baseball’s extra-innings rule. Pujols was loudly cheered by the large cluster of Dodgers fans at Coors Field.
Kenley Jansen (3-4) pitched out of a two-on, two-out jam in the ninth to earn the win. Brusdar Graterol got two outs in the 10th before giving way to Alex Vesia, who picked up save No. 1 by getting Colton Welker to fly out.
Urías, the major league leader with 18 wins, surrendered seven hits and four runs over six innings in a no-decision. He hasn’t lost a game since June 21.
The left-hander figures to have two more starts to reach the 20-win mark, which would make him the fourth Mexican-born pitcher to accomplish the feat in a season. He would join Dodgers standout Fernando Valenzuela (1986), along with Teddy Higuera (1986) and Esteban Loiaza (2003).
Antonio Senzatela started well for Colorado before wearing down. The right-hander ended up allowing four runs and seven hits over six innings. It put an end to his string of seven straight quality starts.
C.J. Cron had a productive night with a pair of RBI doubles and a single.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: OF Cody Bellinger was placed on the injured list with a left rib fracture. OF Luke Raley was recalled and started in right. … The Dodgers plan to activate OF AJ Pollock (strained right hamstring) Thursday.
Rockies: RHP Peter Lambert (recovery from Tommy John surgery) threw a bullpen session Tuesday and will pitch again this week, although it hasn’t been determined if it will be with the Rockies or in Triple-A. … INF/OF Connor Joe (hamstring) may not be back this season.
SPOILERS
The Rockies are trying to slip into the role of division spoilers. Following a three-game series with Los Angeles, they host San Francisco for three more.
“I want our guys to feel part of this race in some way, which we are,” Rockies manager Bud Black explained. “We impact it.”
SMOOTH SLIDE
Dodgers 2B Trea Turner had another smooth slide into home plate after scoring on an RBI double from Max Muncy in the sixth. A similar slide by Turner last month became a big hit on social media.
WALKER’S DAY
Larry Walker’s Hall of Fame plaque will be displayed Saturday at Coors Field. The team will also retire his No. 33 in a ceremony.
UP NEXT
A matchup of All-Star pitchers Wednesday with the Dodgers sending righty Walker Buehler (14-4, 2.39) to the mound and the Rockies throwing right-hander Germán Márquez (12-10, 4.16).
